THE CHOSEN TWINS
CHAPTER 6:
AUTHOR'S NOTE: THIS IS THE 6TH CHAPTER, AND HERE IS WHERE THE STORY IS GOING TO BE A LOT DIFFERENT THAN THE PHILOSOPHER 'S STONE. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR REVIEWS AND COMMENTS FOR THE SAKE OF IMPROVEMENT.
'You're joking.'
It was dinner time. Harry and Hazel had just finished telling Ron and Hermione what had happened when they had left the grounds with Professor McGonagall. Ron had a piece of steak-and-kidney pie halfway to his mouth, but he'd forgotten all about it.
'Seeker?' he said."Keeper?" He looked at Hazel. " You haven't got the built of a keeper."
Hermione stared at him." I am so proud of you, Hazel."
"Thank you, Hermione."Hazel put a peice of the treacle tart in her mouth." But Wood said the same thing, what do you mean not the built of a Keeper?"
"You have to be quick and big enough to cover the goal posts."
"But Professor McGonagall said only speed matters, when I flew to her window, she was timing me,"
"Really?" Hermione looked so surprised.
'But first-years never – you must be the youngest house players in about –'
'– a century,' said Harry, shovelling pie into his mouth.
He felt particularly hungry after the excitement of the afternoon.
'Wood told me.'
Ron was so amazed, so impressed, he just sat and gaped at Harry, and then at Hazel.
'We start training next week,' said Harry. 'Only don't tell anyone, Wood wants to keep it a secret.
"Well, it's not surprising, you two being good at Quidditch." said Hermione as she gathered her books.
"Why?" The Twins said in unison.
"Come, i will show you,"
They all followed Hermione as she moved upstairs through many passages and stopped in front of a wall with trophies.
"What is it?, ermione? said Ron his mouth full of the pie.
"Here,look," She pointed to a trophy.
Harry and Hazel moved closer. It said: James Potter, Gryffindor Seeker.
"Admiring parents, are we?" Fred and George came up from behind.
'Well done,' said George in a low voice. 'Wood told us. We're on the team too – Beaters.'
'I tell you, we're going to win that Quidditch Cup for sure this year,' said Fred. 'We haven't won since Charlie left, but this year's team is going to be brilliant. You two must be good, Wood was almost skipping when he told us.
"Well congratulations, Harry, Hazel" said Fred as he threw a smile towards Hazel as they left.
They all walked back to Gryffindor common room, as they entered there was a havoc in it. The Potter Twins's cat Crookshanks was running around trying to catch Scabbers.
"Scabbers" Ron whimpered.
"Crookshanks, stop it,Crookshanks, now," Harry shouted.
The cat recognized Harry's vioce and perhaps it sensed anger. he went to Hazel and rubbed his face round her ankles.
"Something is wrong with that rat."
"Wrong with Scabbers, it the cat which is a nutter." Ron snapped.
"Our friend in dormitory has a rat and Crookshanks never chased him." Hermione supported her.
"Well, I am sorry, Ron,Poor Scabbers, he's shivering." Hazel apologized but eyed Scabbers all the same.
"I am taking Crookshanks for a walk," Hazel decided to leave Ron with Harry.
Hazel walked outside and saw Fred and George outside Filch's Office.
"What are you two doing?" She hissed.
Fred and George exchanged looks, then George said,"Trying to dung bomb Filch's office, "
"We got our first detention with Snape because of him."Fred told her.
"i got a detention with Snape too, tomorrow"
"Us too" Said the Weasley twins in unison.
"Why just dungbomb, why not throw everything upside down." Hazel's eyes flashed with had her mother's looks but her mind worked like her father's.
"He will not leave the office, we have been waiting for ages."
"Let me help."
"How?" Fred asked curiously.
"Watch and learn,Freddie." Hazel walked into Filch's office and made her face as sweet as possible.
"Sir, Filch, Sir, Professor sent me and asked me to tell you that if you don't clean up the 2nd floor, the thing you were doing in the corridors yesterday will be reported to Dumbledore immediately. "
Filch looked horrified. "That git." He took his cleaning supplies and said, "Come Mrs Norris,"
His cat followed him.
"WOW, JUST WOW, well what was he doing in the corridors?" George and Fred came out from the dark clapping.
"Heaven knows, I was sleeping."
"So you just made that up?"
"How did you know it would work?
"Well, I suppose he does something, and since he is Filch then not something good."
"Bravo, Potter." The twins were delighted.
"See you tomorrow in detention,"
"See you tomorrow." The twins chorused together.
The next day as the owls flooded into the Great Hall as usual, everyone's attention was caught at once by a long thin package carried by six large screech owls.
Harry and Hazel were just as interested as everyone else to see what was in this large parcel and was amazed when the owls soared down and dropped it right in front of them, knocking Harry's bacon to the floor.
Hazel took out the note read and passed it to Harry. As his Hands went to open the package she slapped them away.
"DO NOT OPEN THE PARCEL AT THE TABLE. It contains your new Nimbus Two Thousands, but I don't want everybody knowing you two have got broomstick or they'll all want one. Oliver Wood will meet you tonight on the Quidditch pitch at seven o'clock for your first training session.
Professor M. McGonagall.
Harry had difficulty hiding his glee as he handed the note to Ron to read.
'A Nimbus Two Thousand!' Ron moaned enviously. 'I've never even touched one.'
They left the Hall quickly, wanting to unwrap the broomstick in private. Malfoy snatched the packeage coming out of nowhere.
'That's a broomstick,' he said, throwing it back to Harry with a mixture of jealousy and spite on his face. 'You'll be for it this time, Potters, first-years aren't allowed them.'
TRon couldn't resist it. 'It's not any old broomstick,' he said, 'it's a Nimbus Two Thousand. What did you say you've got at home, Malfoy, a Comet Two Sixty?' Ron grinned at Harry.
'Comets look flashy, but they're not in the same league as the Nimbus.'
'What would you know about it, Weasley you couldn't afford half the handle,' Malfoy snapped back. 'I suppose you and your brothers have to save up, twig by twig.'
Before Ron could answer, Professor Flitwick appeared at Malfoy's elbow.
'Not arguing, I hope, boys?' he squeaked.
'The Potters been sent a broomstick, Professor,' said Malfoy quickly
. 'Yes, yes, that's right,' said Professor Flitwick, beaming at Harry and Hazel. 'Professor McGonagall told me all about the special circumstances, Potter.
And what model is it?'
' Nimbus Two Thousands, sir,' said Harry, fighting not to laugh at the look of horror on Malfoy's face.
'And it's really thanks to Malfoy here that we've got it,' Hazel added. Harry and Ron and Hazel headed upstairs, smothering their laughter at Malfoy's obvious rage and confusion. They were joined by Hermione very soon.
They opened up the broomsticks,
"Wow,' Ron sighed,
"I have to go, but I am so excited, I wish I could ride it now." Hazel sighed too
"Hazey, where are you going?" Harry asked." we dont have classes today, it's friday."
"Detention with Snape."
Harry and Ron groaned. Hermione said sympathetically ," I hope he doesn't give you something foul to do."
"Don't worry about me, Fred and George are going to be there, they have detention too."
Hazel stood in the dungeons and she knocked,
"Professor?" She said.
"Come in,"
Fred and George were already there, sorting good Flubberworms.
"You have to sort the Flubberworms, and being with these two is punishment enough." Snape sneered at both Hazel and the Twins.
"Come on, we don't have all day, Lily."
"I am not Lily, Professor, it's Hazel."
"That's what I said." He snapped.
Hazel knew better then to argue, why did he call her by her mother's name? she wondered.
After an hour of giggling at Fred's face expressions and trying to suppress them, all of them walked out. It was time for Quidditch the thing she was waiting for.
As seven o'clock drew nearer, Harry and Hazel left the castle and set off towards the Quidditch pitch in the dusk. They had never been inside the stadium before.
Too eager to fly again to wait for Wood, Harry and Hazel mounted their broomsticks and kicked off from the ground. What a feeling – she swooped in and out of the goalposts and then sped up and down the pitch.
The Nimbus Two Thousand turned wherever he wanted at his lightest touch. '
Hey, Potters, come down!'
Oliver Wood had arrived. He was carrying a large wooden crate under his arm. Harry landed next to him. Hazel landed behind him. He jumped.
'Very nice,' said Wood, his eyes glinting. 'I see what McGonagall meant ... you really are naturals. I'm just going to teach you the rules this evening, then you'll be joining team practice three times a week.'
It didn't take long to understand the rules, Oliver decided to let them play. He let the snitch out for Harry to catch with he threw ball through hoops for Hazel. Harry caught the snitch in seven minutes. Hazel darted toward the balls as they reflected back to the pitch. Wood threw 17 balls as fast as he could and Hazel didn't let one go past the hoop.
"That Quidditch Cup'll have our name on it this year,' said Wood happily as they trudged back up to the castle. 'I wouldn't be surprised if you turn out better than Charlie Weasley, and he could have played for England if he hadn't gone off chasing dragons.'
Harry and Hazel got very busy. They were so happy like they had never been in life. Other than quarrels with Ron about Scabbers and Crookshanks, it was amazing.
The Quidditch season had begun. On Saturday, Harry and Hazel would be playing in their first match after weeks of training: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. If Gryffindor won, they would move up into second place in the House Championship.
Harry and the rest of the team were changing into their scarlet Quidditch robes (Slytherin would be playing in green).
Wood cleared his throat for silence. 'OK, men,'he said.
'And women,' said Chaser Angelina Johnson.
'And women,' Wood agreed. 'This is it.'
'The big one,' said Fred Weasley.
'The one we've all been waiting for,' said George
. 'We know Oliver's speech by heart,'
Fred told Harry. 'We were in the team last year.'
'Shut up, you two,' said Wood. 'This is the best team Gryffindor's had in years. We're going to win. I know it.' He glared at them all as if to say, 'Or else.' 'Right. It's time.
Good luck, all of you.'
Hazel and Harry followed Fred and George out of the changing room, walked on to the pitch to loud cheers. Madam Hooch was refereeing. She stood in the middle of the pitch, waiting for the two teams, her broom in her hand.
'Mount your brooms, please.' Harry clambered on to his Nimbus Two Thousand.
Madam Hooch gave a loud blast on her silver whistle. Fifteen brooms rose up, high, high into the air. They were off.
'And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor – what an excellent Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive, too – '
'JORDAN!'
'Sorry, Professor.'
The Weasley twins' friend, Lee Jordan, was doing the commentary for the match, closely watched by Professor McGonagall.
she's really flying – dodges a speeding Bludger – the goalposts are ahead – come on, now, Angelina – Keeper Bletchley dives – misses – GRYFFINDOR SCORE!'
Gryffindor cheers filled the cold air, with howls and moans from the Slytherins.
'Budge up there, move along.'
'Hagrid!' Ron and Hermione squeezed together to give Hagrid enough space to join them.
'Bin watchin' from me hut,' said Hagrid, patting a large pair of binoculars round his neck, 'But it isn't the same as bein' in the crowd.
No sign of the Snitch yet, eh?'
"No"
"Look at Hazel, she hasn't let any balls through the hoops."
A mad Bludger was doing all it could to knock Harry out of the air. Fred and George were now flying so close to him on either side that Harry could see nothing at all except their flailing arms and had no chance to look for the Snitch, let alone catch it.
"Someone's - tampered - with - this - Bludger -" Fred grunted, swinging his bat with all his might at it as it launched a new attack on Harry.
We need time out," said George, trying to signal to Wood and stop the Bludger breaking Harry's nose at the same time.
Wood had obviously got the message. Madam Hooch's whistle rang out and Harry, Fred, and George dived for the ground, still trying to avoid the mad Bludger.
Harry won't let anyone stop the game. " i don't care about the bludger."
Madam Hooch had joined them.
"Ready to resume play?" she asked Wood. Wood looked at the determined look on Harry's face.
"All right," he said. "Fred, George, you heard Harry -leave him alone and let him deal with the Bludger on his own." T On Madam Hooch's whistle,Harry kicked hard into the air and heard the telltale whoosh of the Bludger behind him.
Hazel looked up in the air toward Harry, he was having a hard time.
Ron grabbed the binoculars from Hagrid.
Someone's doing something – jinxing the bludger,' said Hermione.
For an agonizing moment, Harry hung in midair, He had stayed still a second too long. The Bludger had hit him at last, smashed into his elbow, and Harry felt his arm break. He grunted.
Hazel screamed. Everyone thought it was seeing her brother but it was something else. The whole satium was eyeing Harry.
Dimly, dazed by the searing pain in his arm, he slid sideways on his rain-drenched broom, one knee still crooked over it, his right arm dangling useless at his side - the Bludger came pelting back for a second attack, this time aiming at his face - Harry swerved out of the way.
Harry took his remaining hand off his broom and made a wild snatch; he felt his fingers close on the cold Snitch but was now only gripping the broom with his legs, and there was a yell from the crowd below as he headed straight for the ground, trying hard not to pass out. With a splattering thud he hit the mud and rolled off his broom. His arm was hanging at a very strange angle; riddled with pain, he heard, as though from a distance, a good deal of whistling and shouting. He focused on the Snitch clutched in his good hand.
"Aha," he said vaguely.
"We've won."
And he fainted. Everyone heard a thud as Harry collapsed to the ground from 50 meters. But another sound echoed into the stadium. Everyone followed it. Hazel Potter had collapsed to the ground, just as Harry did.